Westoe booked their historic day at Twickenham with an unyielding semi-final display that vanquished firm favourites Staines.

Their victory, coupled with Morley's narrow 17-16 win, also away from home at Cinderford, means it will be an all north Powergen Intermediate Cup final - a prospect that seemed most unlikely before the start of play on Saturday.

Jella Shabilla, a rugby rarity as club chairman and First XV player who came on as a replacement prop, said: "The whole team felt immense pride when the final whistle blew not only at our achievement but the way our supporters ran on to the field to congratulate us at the end.

"Their cheers and encouragement had contributed greatly to our fighting spirit that won the day.

"It is just brilliant to get to Twickenham but we all know the job isn't done yet.

"We still have to beat Morley in the final."

The South Shields side's success was not sealed until extra time of a rugged, evenly-fought contest that ended with them digging deep into their defensive reserves to thwart a series of last-ditch attacks that occupied almost all the seven minutes of injury time.

It seemed interminably long to their sizeable and voluble band of supporters whose cheer when the final whistle sounded must have been heard just a few miles down the road at the headquarters of the English game where the final will be held on April 16.

It was Westoe who set the early pace and they took the lead after only five minutes when ex-Newcastle Falcons forward Richard Arnold, a considerable influence since his arrival as player-coach in September last year, won a decisive line-out and in the ensuing drive, lock Paul Bird burst over.

A penalty by full-back Craig Stephenson put the visitors eight points ahead and it was 20 minutes before Staines - boasting three former England internationals in Chris Sheasby, Nick Greenstock and Steve White-Cooper but without Fijian Waisale Serevi - made inroads into the Westoe half.

But thereafter the home team, chasing promotion in division North London Two, regained their customary poise and were in more menacing mode when a precision cross-field kick by fly-half David Knill was taken by winger Ovie Koloko at full speed to touch down in the left corner.

Though Staines now had the edge, it was Westoe flanker David Bowyer who touched down in added time before the interval only for the try to be disallowed for an infringement, a similar fate awaiting Stephenson late on in the game.

The second half assumed much of the pattern at the first with the Tynesiders beginning in robust style before their opponents - having now changed their strips because of similarly coloured red and blue jerseys - reasserted themselves,

While Westoe were on top, centre Kevin Wilson found a rare gap in the home defence to dodge over and put his side eight points ahead.

It was against the run of play when soon after Staines, throughout much better organised in the line-outs, poached a throw-in and drove strongly for lock White-Cooper to touch down.

The Londoners again took control and, after a Knill penalty had levelled the score, Westoe defended staunchly to resist an attacking blitz and take the game into 20 minutes of extra time.

With seven of those gone, the ball sped along the threequarters from a lineout and replacement winger Jamie Rennie had just enough room to round a defender and score, after which Westoe staunchly resisted Staines' fierce but increasingly desperate attacks.